MOre than 700 people applied for just one receptionist's job at a swimming pool.

Applications flooded in for jobs at the state-of-the-art new €7m Apex swimming pool and gym complex in New Ross, County Wexford.

Apex manager Enda Maria Kavanagh said: "It took days of work to go through all the applications. Local people who are now living in London who wanted to come home even applied."

Management were overwhelmed with applications over the past few weeks for 13 jobs at Apex, which is located on a ring road outside the town centre. Hundreds of people applied for the other 12 jobs that were on offer at the leisure centre, which employs 21 people